The Market Is Torn Apart

[Blu-Dog]

Boy, have they made a mess of this thing or not?


There is the whole HDR versus non-HDR thing.


Then 3-D is not incorporated.


Entire studios are not releasing UHD content.


Few library announcements have been made. Blockbusters (like the latest Star Wars) are missing.


Prices for players are still running $400 or better.


Premium sound (Atmos and DTS:X) are getting restricted for several, very bad reasons, to UHD releases.


Is this another debacle on the scale of 3-D, for marketing?

[KRW1]

I think it's got more traction than 3D and will probably be/already is the next standard so no, it's just very, very early days. Hopefully next year we'll see some more mid-range projectors with full UHD and HDR etc and I'll happily jump on board. (I've got a 4k TV but it's not used for movies and won't be as I just don't have the space for a bigger TV than 50"). I'm actually quite encouraged at it so far, bearing in mind it wasn't so long ago I was starting to think we wouldn't even have a 4k disc based format.

I'm still very happy with 1080p projected movies but even with my limited 4k TV experience you can tell it's a huge jump forward.

[Geoff D]

It's an almighty cluster**** at this stage for sure, but at the moment I'm happy enough to call it growing pains rather than proclaiming that the sky is falling (not saying you are Blu-Dog) and yes, I also think it'll become the next standard.

Once dynamic metadata becomes a thing - a non-constant luminance format should never have launched without it IMO - and best mastering practices are put into place then everyone will HOPEFULLY get a more consistent experience across various devices.

But as I've said before, the BDA were between a rock and a hard place with UHD Blu specifically: get the format out sooner rather than later and deal with teething issues as they arise, or spend another couple of years fussing over every last detail during which time streaming might have stolen an unassailable march on physical 4K media (indeed, Sony wanted to launch UHD Blu in summer 2014 because of such concerns).

The ironic thing about the people complaining about how much of a shitshow the UHD rollout has been is that they've got no skin in the game, they've got no intention of jumping in until it's all ironed out anyway so what does it matter if other people are getting their kicks now? The early adopters are being the canaries down the coalmine and are paying through the nose to do so, just like they always do. You're welcome, world.

[KRW1]

I learnt with DVD the early adaptors test stuff; my first player didn't even do DTS. I, for one, salute you lot and you do, indeed, have my genuine thanks. I can't wait to be onboard And even now, where I can buy UHD discs bundled with BD, I'll be buying.

[dvdmike]

There is a market?

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

There is a market?

Yeah, but you have to take a serious ass-whoopin to be part of it.

[David M]

It's probably an improvement on the early HD DVD vs BD days, though!

[I KEEL YOU]

Originally Posted by David M

It's probably an improvement on the early HD DVD vs BD days, though!

From a time when there was little to no competition from streaming and physical media was dominant with physical Blockbuster video stores still being common.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by I KEEL YOU

From a time when there was little to no competition from streaming and physical media was dominant with physical Blockbuster video stores still being common.

Happy days.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by David M

It's probably an improvement on the early HD DVD vs BD days, though!

Barely. The visuals are stronger, but God knows what future "obsolescence" we're going to see. I got past the HDMI 2.2 nonsense, I think.

[ray0414]

It depends how you look at it. the market is growing and adapting. improvements are being made. the ONLY studio thats not really on board is disney, but thats likely change within the next year. Another website is reporting that early sales have been very good based on predictions by the studios, and the blockbusters we've been waiting for will most likely be hitting around the holidays. it was just announced that 100G discs are in production 3 months early and the dolby vision authoring tools have been distributed so we'll get both of those on shelves around fall. the people with HDR setups are happily enjoying the early content.

[Cedric T Sealion]

It astonishes me that the studios are using the new 4K format to release movies mastered in 2K. Are they trying to strangle the format at birth?

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Cedric T Sealion

It astonishes me that the studios are using the new 4K format to release movies mastered in 2K. Are they trying to strangle the format at birth?

Sony knows what's up

[Geoff D]

More like Sony's got TV's to sell

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

More like Sony's got TV's to sell

And Warner have no vested interest, god I mean its not like they are giving away discs with players or anything....

[Geoff D]

That's why they were free, because they're not 4K, duh

[steve1971]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

Boy, have they made a mess of this thing or not?


There is the whole HDR versus non-HDR thing.


Then 3-D is not incorporated.


Entire studios are not releasing UHD content.


Few library announcements have been made. Blockbusters (like the latest Star Wars) are missing.


Prices for players are still running $400 or better.


Premium sound (Atmos and DTS:X) are getting restricted for several, very bad reasons, to UHD releases.


Is this another debacle on the scale of 3-D, for marketing?

I agree with you Blu-Dog it is nothing but a mess! Which is one of the many reason's why I'm staying away from the whole 4K/HDR vs Non-HDR thing. Some claim it's nothing more then growing pain's and for their sake I hope it is because if it fail's then the sky will be falling. It's a wait and see game right now which is what Sony is doing by not releasing a 4K Blu ray player this year. They are not going to get bit in the rump like they did with 3D. I said it before and that is in my opinion 2016 is going to tell alot about the future of this new tech and right now it dont look good. But I really want it to succeed due to that fact that if it does it mean's more of a price drop on Blu ray disc's and for me that means a hell of alot more movies at bargin basement prices. That will make me happy and the wife as well!!!

[bruceames]

I think we're lucky to get a new format at all. All things considering, UHD BD has started off really well. Both hardware and software sales have exceeded expectations and player issue problems have been almost non-existence. Far far better than Blu-ray's launch.

As far as studio support, no video format has ever had all the studios on board from day 1.

3D on home video never took off. Sales are really bad, but if there is a resurgence, then they can always add it later. Considering all your hundreds of negative posts on 3D, this sounds like your just complaining for the sake of complaining.

The $400.00 Samsung player is cheap for launch player, how could you complain about that?

Instead of sitting on the sidelines complaining about it, how about showing a little support? Buy a few UHD combo discs just for the hell of it. When you finally get set up, I think you'll find out that the grass is much greener on this side. And very few owners complaining about it too.

[steve1971]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

I think we're lucky to get a new format at all. All things considering, UHD BD has started off really well. Both hardware and software sales have exceeded expectations and player issue problems have been almost non-existence. Far far better than Blu-ray's launch.

As far as studio support, no video format has ever had all the studios on board from day 1.

3D on home video never took off. Sales are really bad, but if there is a resurgence, then they can always add it later. Considering all your hundreds of negative posts on 3D, this sounds like your just complaining for the sake of complaining.

The $400.00 Samsung player is cheap for launch player, how could you complain about that?

Instead of sitting on the sidelines complaining about it, how about showing a little support? Buy a few UHD combo discs just for the hell of it. When you finally get set up, I think you'll find out that the grass is much greener on this side. And very few owners complaining about it too.

I hope your post wasnt aimed at me because one I was never negative on 3D and second why should I buy UHD Combo disc's when I have no use for the 4K/HDR format. I'm not going to waste my money on something that I feel was never needed. Lastly you say UHD has started off really well and hardware and software sales have exceeded expectation. With who exactly? The general public? I havent read anything or saw any figures that say its been going really well with the general public. Now for Audio and Video people and serious enthusiasts maybe. The bottom line for me is buy what you want and whatever makes the person happy because its their money. But for me I'm gonna sit on the sidelines as you say and watch this whole tech thing pan out and see where it goes while enjoying what I have.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by steve1971

I hope your post wasnt aimed at me because one I was never negative on 3D and second why should I buy UHD Combo disc's when I have no use for the 4K/HDR format. I'm not going to waste my money on something that I feel was never needed. Lastly you say UHD has started off really well and hardware and software sales have exceeded expectation. With who exactly? The general public? I havent read anything or saw any figures that say its been going really well with the general public. Now for Audio and Video people and serious enthusiasts maybe. The bottom line for me is buy what you want and whatever makes the person happy because its their money. But for me I'm gonna sit on the sidelines as you say and watch this whole tech thing pan out and see where it goes while enjoying what I have.

Samsung has stated a few times that sales of their UHD BD player have exceeded their expectations.

To date, sales of Samsung’s player have exceeded the company’s expectations, and Samsung in mid April said it would ramp up production so that it could meet demand in six to eight weeks.

I remember reading the same about disc sales (quoted from one of the studios) but can't find it right now. But according to a Forbes article, sales are double what they were for Blu-ray during the same time span.

With early sales of Ultra HD Blu-ray discs double those of the previous Blu-ray format over the same post-launch period, it looks like physical media isn’t dead after all. So it’s no surprise to find Warner Bros swiftly following up on its debut roster of Ultra HD Blu-ray releases with another trio of high profile titles.

The format is only 3 months old, so it's still in early adopter phase. I don't see how you'd expect it to be selling well with the "general public" now in order to be successful. Formats take time to do that. I think ultimately it will get a better disc market share than Blu-ray did during the same time period. After 10 years, Blu-ray only has a 37% share. I think the UHD BD disc share will be higher than that in 10 years. The format has so much more to offer in terms of improvements than Blu-ray ever did. Better color, better density, higher resolution and a higher dynamic range. All of those except resolution will be noticeable on smaller screen sizes. The Blu-ray upgrade was too dependent on resolution, which means that most consumers didn't appreciate it because their screen size was too small or they were watching from too far away. This will not be the case with UHD BD.

And no, the post was not aimed at you.